Fresh Air

Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.

Kerry Egan's job is to help dying people accept their own mortality. It's profoundly sad, but it's also rewarding. "I'm constantly reminded of ... how much love people have for each other," she says. Her book is 'On Living.' Also, Ken Tucker reviews Leonard Cohen’s album ‘You Want It Darker.’

Gethard tells stories of hitting rock bottom in his new one-man off-Broadway show, ‘Career Suicide,’ which is billed as a comedy about "suicide, depression, alcoholism and all the other funniest parts of life."The host of the CNN series 'Parts Unknown' talks about what food sends him into a "spiral of depression," the perils of cooking bacon naked, and how he fell in love with Vietnam. His new cookbook, 'Appetites,' features recipes he cooks at home for his daughter.

Bobby Vee was a teen idol whose hits included ‘Run to Him,’ ‘Take Good Care of My Baby,’ and ‘Rubber Ball.’ He died Monday at the age of 73. Terry Gross spoke to Vee in 1999. Film critic David Edelstein reviews ‘The Handmaiden,' directed by Park Chan-wook.

The host of the CNN series ’Parts Unknown’ talks about what food sends him into a “spiral of depression,” the perils of cooking bacon naked, and how he fell in love with Vietnam. His new cookbook, ’Appetites,’ features recipes he cooks at home for his daughter. ‘Fresh Air’ contributor Mat Johnson describes his mother’s journey with multiple sclerosis.

How a platform designed for free speech enables Internet trolls. 'National Review' writer David French describes the hateful tweets he received after he criticized Donald Trump and the alt-right. 'BuzzFeed' reporter Charlie Warzel discusses what Twitter is and isn’t doing about trolls.

Playwright Tarell McCraney and filmmaker Barry Jenkins drew on their own childhood experiences in making ‘Moonlight,’ a film about a boy growing up in a Miami housing project. Maureen Corrigan reviews 'Upstream,' a book of essays by Mary Oliver. The 3rd season of the dystopian series ‘Black Mirror,’ is soon available on Netflix. Terry spoke to creator Charlie Brooker about how he was inspired by shows like 'The Twilight Zone.’ ‘Black Mirror’ explores the unintended consequences of the digital age.

The 3rd season of the dystopian series created by Charlie Brooker is soon available on Netflix. Inspired by shows like ‘The Twilight Zone,’ it's about the unintended consequences of the digital age. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the ‘Rocky Horror’ remake starring Laverne Cox, and ‘Black Mirror.’

Journalist Beth Macy talks about George and Willie Muse, black albino brothers who were born in the Jim Crow South, kidnapped, and forced to become circus freaks. Her new book, ‘Truevine,' tells their story. Maureen Corrigan reviews ‘Upstream,’ a book of essays by Mary Oliver. Milo Miles reviews a new album of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson’s never-released tracks from the 1940s and ‘50s.

Author and law professor Tim Wu says much of the "free" content on the web comes at a price to users, who are subjected to ads that are targeted specifically at them and increasingly hard to ignore. His new book is ‘The Attention Merchants.’ Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Wadada Leo Smith’s album ‘America’s National Parks.’

Gaby Hoffmann grew up in the Chelsea Hotel with her mother, an actress in Andy Warhol's Factory. She appeared in 'Field of Dreams' and other films as child, but says she saw acting as "a means to an end." Hoffmann now stars in the Amazon series 'Transparent.' Ken Tucker reviews Lucy Dacus' debut album, 'No Burden.'Safran Foer's new novel, 'Here I Am,' is told from the points of view of different members of a Jewish family. He says it's about things falling apart — but also about "people trying to mend things." His previous book was 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.'

Woodson won the National Book Award for young people’s literature in 2014 for her memoir ‘Brown Girl Dreaming,’ and is finalist for a 2016 National Book Award with ‘Another Brooklyn.’ [Originally broadcast Dec. 2014] We remember ‘Brown v. Board of Education’ civil rights attorney Jack Greenberg who died this week. David Edelstein reviews the new animated documentary ‘Tower,’ about the first modern gun massacre.

‘V Street,’ the new cookbook by married chefs Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, features recipes inspired by global street food. Jacoby says the right techniques can coax "amazing flavor" out of vegetables. Rock historian Ed Ward revisits the ‘80s eccentric pop band The Chills.

Author John Hudak says federal law makes it hard to prove the medicinal value of marijuana. "As a Schedule 1 drug it is very difficult to do research on the plant," he explains. Ken Tucker reviews ‘Blue Mountain,’ a solo album from Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir.

Safran Foer’s new novel, ‘Here I am,’ is told from the points of view of different members of a Jewish family. He says it’s about things falling apart — but also about “people trying to mend things.” His previous book was ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.’ Maureen Corrigan reviews ‘The Mothers,’ a debut novel by Brit Bennett.

Hoffmann grew up in the Chelsea Hotel with her mother, an actress in Andy Warhol's Factory. Gaby appeared in ‘Field of Dreams’ and other films as child, but says she saw acting as "a means to an end." She now stars in the Amazon series ‘Transparent.’

Recorded at his home studio, Springsteen speaks to Terry Gross about growing up in Jersey, songwriting, and wishing to be his stage persona. His new memoir is 'Born to Run.' Dogs can sniff out people, drugs, bombs, cancer, the time of day, oncoming storms and much more. In her new book, 'Being a Dog,' Alexandra Horowitz explores the mysteries and mechanics of canine noses.

In his memoir 'Do No Harm,' Henry Marsh confesses to the uncertainties he's dealt with as a surgeon, revisits his triumphs and failures and reflects on the enigmas of the brain and consciousness. [Originally broadcast May 2015] Film critic David Edelstein reviews ‘Birth of a Nation.’

"There has never been a Republican nominee who has split the party and its media personalities" in the way that Donald Trump has, says 'New York Times' reporter Robert Draper. Kevin Whitehead reviews two new albums from jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille. Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews ‘The Wonder’ by ‘Room’ author Emma Donoghue.